US (Formerly The After Effect - Book 2)

42 - E L E C T R I F Y

//SORRY GUYS, YOU COULD SAY THE WRITERS BLOCK FOR THIS STORY HAS BEEN REAL. although i hold this story dear, another one of mine has been calling my name lately. (more like screaming) it isn't posted on here, but probably will be eventually... anywho, here's the next chapt//

"I don't—what does that mean? What does that m—" I try as Brink leaps out of bed.

"Zeriah and I are being rushed into the hallway," Stella informs me telepathically.

Brink is a frantic mess as he scurries around the room, looking for a set of clothes to wear. I rush to mimic him.

So much for sleep.

"Is it Xena? Is she doing it?" I press as my erratic heartbeat continues.

Brink is silent as he slips on his government-distributed shirt and pants. Meanwhile I'm clipping on my bra and scavenging the closet for a new outfit myself.

"Brink, y-you're freaking me out," I stutter.

He squares my bony shoulders and meets my eyes. "It'll—it'll be okay."

That's when the alarm goes.

And my breathing skyrockets. "Brink?" I gasp. "What's happening? What do we do?"

"Stay with me. We gotta go." He clasps onto my hand and thrusts the door open, only to come face to face with two guards.

"The vault is under lockdown. No one can leave," one of them orders.

Brink glances at me before shoving right through them. They don't stop, though, and keep on our trail, yelling at us to halt.

"Should I—?" I ask, checking back over my shoulder at the guards stomping after us.

"We'll make it. One more door," he says placidly, completely focused. He acts as though he knows what's happening...like he has a plan.

We take a quick turn and enter a wider hallway, guards and people scattered, rushing into rooms like headless chickens. People are freaking out in glitter and pretty pearls, totally thrown off by the chaos. I feel like one of them, and my first instinct is to find my mom and take her wherever we're going, but Brink drags me along too quickly for me to even consider stopping.

"Where are we going?" I try again.

Brink stares straight ahead, eyes fixed on the door a good thirty feet away amongst the scrambling.

The lights flicker a bright, brilliant magenta and my breath is officially stolen by Xena's ability. This is only a warning...

Where are Stella and Zeriah?

"Aurora!" I hear and spin to my right, searching for the voice.

"Aurora, come on!" Brink commands, tugging me through sweaty bodies, but keeping his grip airtight. I can't find the face before we meet the door. Both of us run straight for it, only to be knocked back—it's sealed.

"Aurora!" the voice shouts again. I turn and see Travis headed straight for us. "Where are you going? Everything is shut down."

"Use your power," Brink urges. "He's not coming."

On Travis?

"You're not getting anywhere without me," argues Travis. "I have full security clearance."

"Aurora, use it on the door. Let's go!"

People are screaming everywhere, making my head spin in a thousand circles. I feel like I'm in a movie right now. I'm woozy and in a hyperactive state of mind. My fingers are numb; they itch to bust the door open, but why freak anyone out more when—